ALP official arrested for crimes against Arakanese people, Arakan Army spokesman alleges

By DMG 11 Aug 2022

DMG Newsroom
11 August 2022, Sittwe  

The Arakan Army (AA) arrested Lieutenant Colonel Khaing Paw Lin, an executive committee member of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), not because he was a member of the ALP but because of crimes committed against the Arakanese people, according to AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha. 

At an online press conference on Thursday, U Khaing Thukha said Khaing Paw Lin was detained because of public complaints about the alleged crimes he had committed. 

“The arrest of Khaing Paw Lin by the Arakan Army was not because he is a member of the ALP, but because of his crimes against the people of Arakan. From our point of view, Khaing Paw Lin is one of the Arakanese people and is involved in some cases and some criminal offences. We also have complaints from people about these crimes. Therefore, we have to detain him because it is necessary for public safety,” he added. 

U Khaing Thukha did not reveal details about the crimes Khaing Paw Lin is alleged to have committed. 

Khaing Paw Lin and a Grade 8 student were taken from their home by members of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) in the Arakan State capital Sittwe on August 2. 

U Khaing Thukha also had criticism for the ALP, accusing the group of cooperating with the military junta. 

“Another thing is that the crimes committed by such a group threaten the public’s security, and on the other hand, they are betraying the public by collaborating with the enemy. I would like to say that it is a matter that will continue to be watched as to how the people will be punished in the future for the ALP’s actions of betraying the public and bullying the public,” he said. 

Lt-Col Khaing Kyaw Soe, the ALP information officer, rejected the AA’s claim that Khaing Paw Lin was arrested for committing a crime. 

He also warned that although the ALP has repeatedly tolerated the arrests of the ALP’s central committee members and comrades by the AA, it will no longer be tolerated. 

“We have exercised patience many times. But now we will no longer exercise tolerance and will retaliate against the AA’s actions. We understand that it is our police responsibility to arrest those who arrested Lieutenant Colonel Khaing Paw Lin. That’s why we are hunting down the people involved in the arrest of Lieutenant-Colonel Khaing Paw Lin,” he added. 

In a statement, the ALP said that such an arrest undermines Arakan national unity and is an act that should never happen among Arakanese resistance groups. 

The AA and its political wing, the ULA, have arrested at least 10 members of the ALP including Khaing Aung Thein Htay, an auxiliary central committee member, who have not been released to date, according to the ALP. 

The ALP was formed in 1968 with the help of the Karen National Union (KNU), and is considered a veteran armed organisation in Arakan State that has often stood at odds with successive Myanmar governments. The ALP signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with a previous, quasi-civilian government in 2015, something the Arakan Army has not done.